FutureQuest got Shocked!

[Deb]

Hey all!

With the help of drewmedia (http://www.drewmedia.com) FutureQuest has finally added some Flash to the website! Some of the threads about Flash design put me on a vengeance to shock our own site ;)[nbsp][nbsp]

drewmedia went to bat for us (and will do so on the main site as well) :)

If you have Netscape or Internet Explorer (and the plugin) check it out!
http://www.FutureQuest.net/index.html
Let us know what you think.

It's short and sweet and hopefully loads up fast...

Deb
[nbsp][nbsp]--
[nbsp][nbsp] <drewmedia plug begins here>
[nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp]Absolutely wonderful designer to work with!
[nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp]Check them out at http://www.drewmedia.com/
[nbsp][nbsp] </end plug>

someday I'll learn UBB code :þ
[This message has been edited by Deb (edited 11-21-99)]

[Meikel]

Hi Deb,

looks cooooooooool.
I found some parts of the intro to be a bit too fast to catch up with.

Greetings from a tired programmer
[nbsp][nbsp]Meikel Weber
http://www.meikel.com

[sheila]

Well, the "fast stuff" which was the white comments like "I have a plan" and so forth (I took them to be quotes from the community forums, right?)

I liked the idea but I found it frustrating to see them going by faster than I could read them.

Overall, very cool. I liked the construction of the FQ logo.

[Sam]

Wow - dig that funky techno beat!!

[Scott]

BRAVO!!!

Visually stimulating and the sound track makes me feel like I'm still at the club!

Scott
------------------

www.modbod.com (http://www.modbod.com)

[Binky]

I hit that page today, looking for some FQ info, and it annoyed the heck out of me. I hate this stuff.

[Rachel Woodlock]

*loved* the purple arrows turning into the logo - wonder if you could do some sort of glowy effect somewhere but that maybe too X Files ;)[nbsp][nbsp]

[elite]

Well I have mixed reviews on flash, but I think this use is good. What I hate is sites that use flash for everything, which makes navigating a pain.. With this its just the intro so you can still navigate easy :)

I also rally like the logo @ the end :)

[Leigh]

That was really cool!!!!
I'm with Mandi on the "stream of consciousness" idea!

:)Leigh

[Justin]

I have to admit, when I first found out that this was done (actually I guessed), I did not know what to expect... I thought it would be tacky - but once I saw it, I like it - a lot :)[nbsp][nbsp]I personally think it makes a great introduction to FutureQuest. It makes me think of a TV commercial - and a really good one at that. It's short, and yet I still had to view it several times, trying to snag all of the quotes that flew by :)

IE users - I think it looks best in full screen mode (F11).

Binky - I admit that I don't care for a shocked site when it's over done, or done with no good reason, but come on - you were really that annoyed by this? For one, it's very quick, and the download is completely painless. There is a "Skip Intro" button at the bottom the whole time that let's you bypass the thing completely, and takes you right into the site. And lastly, if Shockwave is so annoying, why do you have the plugin installed?

At any rate, I really think it's nice, and should give a really nice first impression of FutureQuest :)

BTW - for those who do frequent the FQ site, just bookmark http://www.FutureQuest.net/index.php to bypass the Shockwave intro page...

------------------
Justin Nelson
FutureQuest Support

[Mandi]

Whoa . . . way cool!

I kinda like the fast stuff . . . makes it seem like a Stream of Conciousness thing . . .

[Phoenix]

Whoa!! That is totally awesome! I LOVE it! hehehee

I do think the msgs fly by a little too fast, I really struggled to catch them, but overall...WELL DONE!

Take care,

Nix

[jokesplus]

I think it's great, and the download is fine.[nbsp][nbsp]Only one wish[nbsp][nbsp]for a URL that I can bookmark to help me skip the screen.[nbsp][nbsp]Don't really want to have to deal with the flash stuff every time I want to get to the futurequest homepage.[nbsp][nbsp]Yes I know there is a skip intro button, but....:)

Thanks

Jarrod
------------------
For humor on-line check out Jokesplus
http://www.jokesplus.com

[Deb]

Justin said, and I BTW - for those who do frequent the FQ site, just bookmark http://www.FutureQuest.net/index.php to bypass the Shockwave intro page... :)

The "Fast chitter chatter" is in fact 100% quoted from the forums -- the question remains --- from which posts, hhmm? ;)

We wanted it to be fast as to avoid everything being seen the first time around.[nbsp][nbsp]It was done in such a way as to go ahead and give the "subliminal effect" as well as to help assure if you watch it more than once, you are bound to see something new each time ....

The Main Points are done slowly... "The heart, The Power, and The Magic" the rest is more "hooplah" to enhance the main message ;)

The whole intro is about everyone within these forums -- the credit goes to the community -- period.

Deb
[nbsp][nbsp]--
[nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp]Dare to compare!

[MTDesigns]

Loved it :)!

--------------
Joi
My ParenTime/STOP Sex Offenders!
http://www.myparentime.com

[RobA]

Do you think that the shockwave stuff will get people to sign up that wouldn't otherwise?

If you had that page up when I was looking for a website host I wouldn't be using FQ now.[nbsp][nbsp]My browser, Opera, did not show the page and[nbsp][nbsp]I refuse to download a new browsers or plug-ins when sites tell me to - I just look for the information or services elsewhere.[nbsp][nbsp]I picture calling up a[nbsp][nbsp]company on the phone and getting a message that says "sorry, we don't like your brand of telephone, if you want to[nbsp][nbsp]do business with us, get a new phone and come back later.

When I was doing some work on a machine that had IE, I took a look at the site just to see what it was like (something I would not normally do).[nbsp][nbsp]While I agree that it had some cool visual effects, I sat there for 45 seconds watching the clip and it didn't tell me why FQ was better than anyone else. (About 15 seconds into the clip some information was there, but It zipped by at "subliminal message" speed.)[nbsp][nbsp]Maybe I would have gotten more out of it if I wasn't scrambling to turn the volume down on the PC after it started blaring music I was not expecting - and enduring the comments of others in the office who assumed I was playing some game.

Just because you can do something, should you?

-
Rob Altenburg

[Deb]

I see it more as a stimulating splash page that touches on some of the creativity you can apply to an Internet image.[nbsp][nbsp]How many sites a day do we see that have a single large image that says "click here to enter"?[nbsp][nbsp]This is their splash page, and the intro is sort of our splash page.

To get "into" their site you'll need to bookmark the true homepage, otherwise you must "click here to enter" each time you visit.[nbsp][nbsp]The same applies with this... first timers will see the intro/splash but regulars will know how to bypass it.[nbsp][nbsp]And for all, the option is *always* there to bypass.

We know browsers such as Opera can not view it which is why the lil link at the bottom of the "launch" page is there...(and TeRRa plans on putting a server side rule in there as well once we figure out more of who can and who can't view)

Obviously it's not something you want to have to see each visit...but again, that's just a matter of linking in beyond the 'splash' page and/or skipping it if you do not have the plugins or time.

My goal?[nbsp][nbsp]

To highlight the fact that there is more to it than the hardware.. hence "The heart of FutureQuest is not... but instead it is...."

To add something new to the site that shows some of the growth the Internet has made with functionality and creativity

To show how much more a web site can do besides be static

To stand out from the standard "host site" and be different.[nbsp][nbsp]After surfing through 10, 20, or more sites trying to select a host many times they all begin to look the same with the features being different only in numbers -- this says "wake up!" and will hopefully, at minimum, be remembered... highlighting the difference, the community, and the spirit behind the numbers.

Finally, to have some have some fun and brighten up the place :)

Deb
[nbsp][nbsp]--
[nbsp][nbsp] Lil'bit of this + Lil'bit of that = Diversity

[Carol-H]

Very, very cool! and great music![nbsp][nbsp]Minor trouble getting the download program to work: couldn't find my browser (kept looking one level higher than I told it) till I put the flash32.exe in the same directory.

and two minor twitches:

"use" is a PERFECTLY GOOD WORD; why must people keep using "utilize"! (or should that be "utilizing 'utilize'"...see how odd that sounds?)

hmm, "catch it if you can"...now where have I heard something like that lately? (disappears under a few zillion Pokeballs, TCG cards, and Burger King toys, but emerges triumpantly with TWO FOSSIL MEWS for the kids' Christmas stockings!)

:)

- Carol Hanson
[nbsp][nbsp]www.dragonbear.com (http://www.dragonbear.com)

[frankc]

<old fogey mode on>
Took 26 seconds to get to the "do you want to install Flash" message...said No (I knew I didn't have it enabled but was curious about wha' happened), and proceeded to get about 30 seconds of quick, repetitious "waiting to connect to server", nothing on the screen, and tons of short loads with annoying "clicking" each time that happened.[nbsp][nbsp]Couldn't Stop or Esc out of it, and clicking on the Tired of Waiting link didn't do anything.[nbsp][nbsp]Had to kill the browser.

I dislike splash screens; they put the viewer one step further away for the information for which they came to FQ or any other site and I can't see why anyone would want to do that.[nbsp][nbsp]To accomplish BOTH goals, my recommendation would be to load the standard page BUT from there offer, prominently if you wish to gain max attention, the Shocked version for those who wish to see that flavor.

To say it another way, I'd never own a McDonald's that, when going through the drive-up, says something like, "Welcome to McDonald's! Oh--you're driving a a 3.2L Plymouth Voyager, but we strongly prefer owners who have the Grand Voyager with the 3.8L engine and FWD. Do you want to get out of line and return with the preferred model?[nbsp][nbsp]Or, if you don't want food that's as good, you can continue on with your 3.2L engine."[nbsp][nbsp]That may not be a terrific metaphor but you get the jist of it.

Instead, offer two lanes with the Shockwave version as the "upgrade" if you will.[nbsp][nbsp]I don't think the current design quite does that as it's designed very pro-Shockwave.
<old fogey mode off...sorta>

Actually, I'm all for trying things that enhance the experience when they are an asset.[nbsp][nbsp]After all, as young as the 'net is, dere be a whole lotta 'spearimintin' goin' on here, eh?
------------------
Frank
Hosanna! Lutheran Church www.hosannachurch.com (http://www.hosannachurch.com)
[nbsp]--and--
Pacesetter "Moving Message" Signs www.pace-setter.com (http://www.pace-setter.com)

[RobA]

The same applies with this... first timers will see the intro/splash but regulars will know how to bypass it.[nbsp][nbsp]And for all, the option is *always* there to bypass.


I wouldn't have given you the chance.

Maybe to some people it's a good first impression, to me it's offensive.[nbsp][nbsp]I don't like to be told to load this or click that because my software isn't good enough to see what you are selling.[nbsp][nbsp]I think it's rude to ask customers to sit through a "commercial" before they see the content.[nbsp][nbsp]I know I'm not the only one who feels this way (check out: http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com). How many potential clients can you afford to offend?

How many times have you been shopping online and bought something from a site just because they had a cool splash screen?[nbsp][nbsp]By having such a page, you are betting it gets you more business than it drives away. I wouldn't take that bet if it were my paycheck on the line.

-
Rob Altenburg
Splash screens might have been cool back in the days of Netscape 2.0 now they are just tacky.

[Drew]

I think there's two ways to look at this:
A) People are surfing the web entirely for content, which may be arguable in the case of a host.
B) People are on the web, and if something catches their eye, they might take notice a little better.

When I was shopping for my host way-back-when, I eliminated hosts from my list sometimes just by the difference between the smallest numbers.[nbsp][nbsp]e.g. - That host offers 45 mb of space, while this one offers 50.

If I were JUST looking at FutureQuest for numbers in my search of thousands of hosts, I quite possibly would have dropped FutureQuest, just because they aren't the "unlimited everything for $9.95" type of company.[nbsp][nbsp]But I don't need to tell everyone here that this isn't what makes FutureQuest so powerful![nbsp][nbsp]This is a *different* host.

Aside from that, what is the name of the company?[nbsp][nbsp]If a company called FutureQuest (founded on pushing you to ask more from your host) isn't going to push the web, who is?

For whatever reasons, some people just don't want the web to move forward... I agree that companies (like Macromedia, for example) don't make it an easy thing because they don't support Lynx or Opera, etc.[nbsp][nbsp]We could talk all day about lack of standardation on the web! ;)[nbsp][nbsp]hehe .. It's just my personal opinion that the web has much more to offer... I don't like just accepting what we have.[nbsp][nbsp]I just think surfing the web should be an experience, not a trip to the library! hehe

Well, look forward to seeing everyone around and taking full advantage of the real power of FutureQuest... the fact that it's different! :)

--Drew

[Monica]

I LOVE IT![nbsp][nbsp]FQ nails it again![nbsp][nbsp]Awesome job!

What I liked best, is the emphisis, that FQ is an awesome village, not *just a* host.[nbsp][nbsp]OK, it's way cool too! <whine... I wanna learn Shockwave...</whine>

[Justin]

For those using Opera and other older browsers, I don't see how you can consider that to be offensive. Someone used the analogy of a company telling them they need a newer phone to call them. Hm, have you ever called a company using a rotary phone? "Press 1 for...if you don't have a touch tone phone, please stay on the line..."

If a person is not willing to be up with the times in technology, they do not have the right to think that everyone must design to work with the old technology. Have you ever been unable to install a program because it requires a certain Windows version/fast CPU/memory/etc? If you don't meet the system requirements, you don't get to use the program.

Here's how I see it - if we always design for the lowest common denominator (all pages must work in Lynx/Netscape 1.0/IE 2.0/Opera/WebTV), we are living in the past and for no good reason.

With this in mind, this is only a short (< 1 minute) introduction page that can be bypassed if you are using Windows 3.1, dialed up with your rotary phone ;)[nbsp][nbsp] TeRRa will be catching browser versions shortly, and if the browser does not support Shockwave they will never even see the "Launching..." page or know that it exists. Those using supported browsers but without the plugin installed will see a screen offering to download the plugin or skip the intro screen.

I think Macromedia has done something really great. The web is far from being a text based medium, and those who don't accept that will fall behind as more and more sites use (or "utilize" ;) ) JavaScript/Java/CSS/Flash, as well as whatever tomorrow brings us. Heck, I can't stand using IE4 now that IE5 is out - I upgraded on both of my machines - I could not see using an older Netscape or IE, or using Opera which, IMHO, is nowhere near par with the other two (no Java support, no Object (which includes Flash and ActiveX) support, poor table rendering, etc... I only have it for compatibility checking etc.

At any rate, I'm surprised that some of you find it annoying and/or offensive - I think that is offensive to Deb, since she's been planning this for a while and put a lot of research/work into getting this done...

Even way back when on the 28.8, when Flash was pretty new, I never did mind a flash site provided there was a means to skip the flash portion of the site. As long as there was a way out it was fine.

Maybe it's just me...

--------------------
Justin Nelson
FutureQuest Support
[nbsp][nbsp]-- You must be this tall to ride...

[RobA]

If a person is not willing to be up with the times in technology, they do not have the right to think that everyone must design to work with the old technology.

You have the attitude that if a potential customer has difficulty seeing what it is you are selling it is their fault.[nbsp][nbsp]Does that sound like good business to you?[nbsp][nbsp]You can insult them all you want, but you will not earn any of their money unless you meet their needs.

There is a time and a place to push the technology of the web, but a business that can't make sure it works right the first time is in trouble.[nbsp][nbsp]How many mouse clicks away is your competition?

BTW,[nbsp][nbsp]Opera is probably the most advanced browser available today. Check out http://www.opera.com/features.html and see if IE or Netscape can compare. (It also supports flash and a bunch of other plug-ins - if you choose to install them.)

[Deb]

Well, I've certainly no problems with the Opera Browser... if I remember correctly, it's one of the few trying to stay with the standards and not go off on the way side with "Opera Specific" things.[nbsp][nbsp]That I personally admire.[nbsp][nbsp]I can't stand how this tag is support by this browser and not by that one, only because this browser made it up and that browser made up a different type:/

I'm not offended by the opinions of the Flash Intro at all.[nbsp][nbsp]As with everything, some will like and some will not.[nbsp][nbsp]That part I was prepared for and can accept without a problem.[nbsp][nbsp]I am however surprised by the notion that offering Flash would be saying "You're not good enough so we don't want you".[nbsp][nbsp]That's absurd, and in no way what I believe it says.[nbsp][nbsp]It simply says if you do not want or can not view it "Fast Forward" and skip it.[nbsp][nbsp]Plenty of things like that on sites everywhere.[nbsp][nbsp]We use Javascript on the site too, and those who have it turned off simply miss that area of the site.

We offer tools that many people are unable to use, it doesn't mean they shouldn't be on the servers just because they do not know how to use everything, what it means is these things are there if/when they ever do decide to dive in and check them out.[nbsp][nbsp]I've watched quite a few on the forums say things like "If it hadn't of been part of my package I would have never even considered it.[nbsp][nbsp]But since it was there I figured I'd check it out and I'm sure glad I did!" (Justin was one of those ;)[nbsp][nbsp]He would have never even looked at PHP had it not been part of his account when he first signed on)

Offering the Flash option says -- Hey, if you're up for it, check this out! -- some will, some wont, some will be glad they did, and others will move on learning quickly how to bypass it.[nbsp][nbsp]That's up to them.[nbsp][nbsp]But as Drew stated this is "FutureQuest" and I really do want to keep it different and the Flash intro is different.[nbsp][nbsp]We decided to use the latest version of flash (after much discussion) and go ahead and push the limits in that area.[nbsp][nbsp]

My intentions with the Flash intro are in no way saying if you can not view it then get lost.[nbsp][nbsp]It simply says if you can not view it then skip it.[nbsp][nbsp]The only requirement is that you know how to click the "Skip it" links ;)[nbsp][nbsp] I guess in a way we would require that a visitor know how to do that part *grin*

On your own web site you use images.[nbsp][nbsp]People surf all the time without the ability to view images, the result is ALT tags (that do not say "get lost if you can't see this.)[nbsp][nbsp]Same thing ;)[nbsp][nbsp] Now what I will not do on a site like FutureQuest is make a 'flash only' web site, as obviously that would not work (the same thing as an image only site wouldn't).[nbsp][nbsp]The ability to see/read the web site will remain as it should, however, we are going to re-design it as well ;)

I think the diversity of responses in this thread have been great, they gave a lot for everyone to consider/reconsider.[nbsp][nbsp]The only part that "hurts" is that anyone would think that the use of the latest technology to show how much more the web can be would be found as offensive and insulting.[nbsp][nbsp]That part I just don't understand.[nbsp][nbsp]I could if we allowed only one type of entry into the site, but since we don't, I just don't understand that mode of thinking.[nbsp][nbsp]I have thought of some extra edits we can make to the intro to help with some of the other things brought up though (adding an "adjust your speakers" note is one of them).[nbsp][nbsp]But if we didn't move forward then we would still only be trying to offer web space that allows for a domain name, static html content, and basic email services with nothing more.

Deb
[nbsp][nbsp]--
[nbsp][nbsp] Hop, skip, jump....

[Terra]

In all simplicity:

http://www.FutureQuest.net/index.php

--Terra

[RobA]

The only part that "hurts" is that anyone would think that the use of the latest technology to show how much more the web can be would be found as offensive and insulting.

In what I hope to be my final rant on the subject, let me put it this way...

A users first experience with Future Quest:

Scenario 1: (Which happened the forst time I tried it)
The site comes up as a[nbsp][nbsp]black page that says it's "launching" even though its not.[nbsp][nbsp]After they wait a while and figure out it's not doing anything then they may notice that they can scroll down the page.[nbsp][nbsp]If they scroll down there will be text - that is not in the standard color of a link (lack of visual cues is particularly difficult for international users that read English slowly) - telling them to click if nothing has happened.[nbsp][nbsp]If they got this far great, otherwise you just lost a customer.

Scenario 2:
The site comes up and a box pops up asking them to install something and asks them if they trust content from someone they may never have heard of.[nbsp][nbsp]They may be afraid of a "virus" or they may work in a company where the IT policy says they arn't allowed to install such things.[nbsp][nbsp]They may find the alternate link or they may just leave.

If you wanted to, you could avoid this.[nbsp][nbsp]You mentioned ALT tags - they are a perfect example of "multimedia" done the right way.[nbsp][nbsp]If you can't or don't want to see the images you don't.[nbsp][nbsp]You still know what the image was about, but there is no special scrolling or clicking or bookmarking. It does not tell you something is loading when it's not, you don't have to adjust your monitor or volume or watch a commercial, it is seamless.[nbsp][nbsp]What I find insulting is not the multimedia, it is that companies all over the web refuse to take the time and effort to make the "web experience" this easy for their users and invaribly suggest that it's the users who need to "fix it" when things don't work.[nbsp][nbsp]You may think it's absurd for these people to get the impression that they are not welcome - I disagree. Sure it's simple for any English speaking computer saavy person to figure out... what about the other 70% of the net?

Of the suggestions that have been posted, I personally like the idea of a main page that works right the first time with an option to see the shockwave content if you wish.

-
Rob Altenburg
Shockwave: the BLINK tag for the new millenium.

[Tatu]

In what I hope to be my final rant on the subject, let me put it this way...I know we are all entitled to our oppinions, but WHY are you sooo very anti-Flash? It really isn't a big deal to press that little "Skip Intro" button once in awhile, is it?

Personally, I LOVE it! Great job!

I COULD NOT find any of the comments I found through the UBB search so Deb's little semi-suggestion for a game ("just which discussions, hmmmm?") sorta bummered me out :D .

[Rich]

Well, since we've threaded into pet peeves about how to judge a book by its cover, I guess I'll throw my two cents in....

I'm not a lover of Flash but I do like what FQ and Drewmedia designed. I would much rather a site offer a Flash splash screen then the stupid, dumb, impediment-to-getting-where-you-really-want-to-go home page that says "click here to enter our site".

As Deb says, "some will like it, some won't" which you can apply to just about anything you do. I recall when our company decided to produce its first emblazoned shirts and offered them to employees at cost. Some complained that the company should not have charged for them since giving them to the employees would have shown more "respect" and consideration for the employees' hard work. A couple of years later, to commemorate a project where everyone had put in a lot of work, the company produced and gave away free a small commemorative coin that was really nice but didn't really cost much. Some complained that the company shouldn't waste its funds this way!

I don't think any reasonable business would base its WHP decision on whether or not a particular WHP's home page contains Flash (or not). I truely doubt that this is on the criteria list. This would be like telling your staff to get the very best price they can for some foobar you need and instructing them to cross off the list any company whose line is busy during the first attempt.

If a business were really and truly judged by how badly everyone thought it did things, then Microsoft and AOL should have been bankrupt about 100 times each by now.

Rich
-- "I was shocked when they flashed me...so I had to go back just to see it again."

[frankc]

I'm really not anti-Shockwave; I only would prefer that the standard page load with the Shockwave option shown, rather than the other way around.[nbsp][nbsp]When I loaded the page without Shockwave installed, I got trapped in a load sequence that could NOT be stopped by Esc, Stop or clicking on the link to bypass; I had to kill the browser.[nbsp][nbsp]If it was my first-ever visit, I'd venture no further.

[nbsp][nbsp]Frank

[Deb]

When I loaded the page without Shockwave installed, I got trapped If someone's up for it... could you please re-test the site with something like Opera and let me know if the same thing happens again?[nbsp][nbsp]I've added a refresh tag that will automatically redirect past the flash after a few seconds (assuming if the launch page hasn't launched in less than 8 seconds it's probably not going to 'work right' anyway)

Let me know.
[nbsp][nbsp] Thanks
[nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp]Deb

[Rachel Woodlock]

Hi Deb,

I tested it in Opera 3.51 and after about 3-5 seconds it skipped the Flash and jumped straight to the normal FutureQuest screen.

Rach

[Armand]

Okay I like the flash, but understand and sort of agree with all the points of contention.[nbsp][nbsp]Am glad that there is a side step found to possibly please all.

Upside for me is made me realize I didn't have the latest Flash plugin and got it as a result.

But darnit my main issue is that the text should be slowed down a tiny bit.[nbsp][nbsp]Especially since I am a bit concern about the use of "comments from the forums"... hmm... staff comments or users?[nbsp][nbsp]Copyright issues?

Joe
~~Finally back around after a massive 4 day ordeal w/ a MS conflict~~

[Deb]

We avoided using other's comments to avoid any question of approval or copyrights....

All of the 'chitter chatter' is in fact from one member of the 'staff' ;)

Deb

[tedloh]

My turn.[nbsp][nbsp]I've been away scouting out new technologies as some of you know.

I like Flash - sometimes.[nbsp][nbsp]I thought of flashing my intro as well, but it all came down to this - making some people go through extra effort to get the Flash plugin, and in a way I agree with Rob that some will definitely not like it.

A proposed solution - use a cookie to determine if someone has been there before - if so skip the Flash.[nbsp][nbsp]I'm not particularly inclined to bookmark something past the index page unless I feel it's necessary.

Secondly, check for Flash - if not go immediately to home page.[nbsp][nbsp]Don't ask if they want to download it - chances are quite high that they won't want to because they've had that chance at many other sites.

I will be flashing the st-andrews site sometime next month, and only because the owner requested it.[nbsp][nbsp]For sure, though, it will be a first-timer thing, and thereafter skipped unless you click on a link to "See that awesome Flash again!".

As for the Flash itself, I think it was nicely done, and simple.[nbsp][nbsp]Didn't like the snippets going away so quickly (works well with logos but not with quotes which people want to read).[nbsp][nbsp]Didn't hear the music so no comment on that, but I'll bet it was good.

------------------
Ted (Chief Do-It-All)
Tygre Systems Co Ltd
Bangkok, Thailand, Land of Smiles :) :)
http://www.tygresystems.com (work in progress)
ted@tygresystems.com

[RobA]

The refresh tag works fine.[nbsp][nbsp]Thanks Deb for making the change and for enduring my crusade.

BTW, It was said: I truely doubt that this is on the criteria list. This would be like telling your staff to get the very best price they can for some foobar you need and instructing them to cross off the list any company whose line is busy during the first attempt.

You are exactly right in that defective, klunky or hard to use front pages are like busy-signals, but If you think busy-signals don't hurt a business you are just simply wrong.[nbsp][nbsp]
FQ changed one line of code and now, If the Flash dosen't work, users don't have to figure out if something is loading, or where they should click - isn't that a better way to do it?[nbsp][nbsp]

Rob.[nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp]

[Tatu]

I don't know what it is, but with Netscape I cannot here the music AND YES I HAVE FLASH 4 ON BOTH BROWSERS. Don't really know if it is my NS or the soundfile or ???

OK, could we clear up as to what context we should use the word fubar? :D

FUBAR - Acronym for Fu(ahem!)ed Up Beyond Recognition

Correct
[nbsp][nbsp]- That fire FUBAR'ed that car!
[nbsp][nbsp]- The server is FUBAR (can also be used in this entance
[nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp] with the word FUBARed)

Incorrect
[nbsp][nbsp]- Tell your staff to get the very best price they can
[nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp] for some foobar.
[nbsp][nbsp]- Go smell FUBAR.

In other words, proper uses for the phrase/acronym "Fubar" are verbs and adverbs (not adjectives). Fubar used as a noun would be incorrect. :D

-Tatu

~*Today's lesson has been brought to you by the letter "K"*~
[This message has been edited by Tatu (edited 11-24-99)]

[teach1st]

I can hear the music loud and clear with Netscape 4.7 and whatever Shock version I have (4, I think).

I can't find it now, but I believe I saw on a techie-type newsgroup that current usage provides that FUBAR is an acceptable all-purpose generic replacement word when used in technical lingo, regardless of the function of the word or words replaced and regardless of surrounding sentence structure, primarily because techies seem to have no set sentence structure in their written communications anyway. Remember, language, like marriage, culture, and Pokemon, is an evolving entity. There are no hard and fast FUBARS.[nbsp][nbsp] :)

[Justin]

We all know what FUBAR, the acronym, means. However, the words foo and bar, sometimes used together and sometimes separately (sometimes hyphenated as well) are very different... Consider them modern day widgets - you used to work with widgets in hypothetical situations, but in today's hypothetical world you work with foo and bar, or foobar.

"Would you like some foo to go with that bar?"
"I'm not sure which is more expensive, the foo or the bar..."
"foo is to bar as widget is to _____."

This combination of words is derived from a play on words (or a play on an acronym in this case), and is used where a singular widget simply will not do (Hint: read the Perl documentation - you'll see lots of foo and bar, but no widgets ;) )

My 2 cents :)

------------------
Justin Nelson
FutureQuest Support

[Armand]

Hmm... thanks for the answer about the comments Deb.[nbsp][nbsp]Just noticed when I went through the intro again, that once it started going... which was really fast, the skip intro at the bottom through out wouldn't work for me.[nbsp][nbsp]Not that I mind re-seeing the intro or anything.[nbsp][nbsp]Is that supposed to be the case?

[Tatu]

Thanks + ROFL, Teach &amp; Justin! I was totally unaware have FUBAR / Foo Bar can be used as a all-purpose generic replacement word like whatchamacallit and thingamajig. :D

-Tatu

~*Those who don't know, now know*~

[Terra]

Which browser and version?

Possibly you are behind an ISP's caching proxy server and it has snagged the first released version where the 'Skip Intro' in fact did not work correctly...

Check your browsers cache and see if you can flush it out, or when the Intro starts up press 'shift-reload'...

--
Terra
sysAdmin
FutureQuest

[Armand]

Absolutely never used cached on anything by my own settings... really hate that.[nbsp][nbsp]Leading cause to most of the tech questions I get from users. uuugg!

Usually only incur the ISP caching wraithing when using the built in browser's wrath, which I never use if I can avoid[nbsp][nbsp](IE..eck!).[nbsp][nbsp]Using NS 4.07.[nbsp][nbsp]Tried again and it's working fine now.. know though that it's not a NS browser cache thing caused by my settings, but perhaps ISP proxy.... though this would be the first time I've seen it affect my NS.[nbsp][nbsp]First time for everything huh

[Rich]

...the skip intro at the bottom through out wouldn't work for me.
I believe this is a Flash thing with some scripts. I have seen this on both IE and NS browsers but appears to be very intermittent.

Rich